Forward makes pivotal play
in Wisconsin game
By Kyle Charters
Senior
Writer
With 25 seconds left in overtime against Wisconsin,
Purdue's Shereka Wright made what most Boilers called the most important
play of the game.
After the No. 6 Boilers (19-3, 9-0 Big Ten) took
a 71-70 on a 3-point play by guard Katie Douglas, Wisconsin called a
timeout to set a play. The Badgers (12-7, 6-3) wanted to get ball to
junior Tamara Moore on a backdoor screen that would leave the guard
open under the basket.
"I didn't know what was going on," said Wright.
"I was saying 'where are you (Moore) planning on going?' and just happen
to turn around and saw the ball was coming. I was like 'oh' and I grabbed
it.'"
Moore, who led the Badgers with 19 points and five
assists, said that after the screen she was supposed to break closer
to the basket, but instead decided on a slightly different route."
"I tried to go in but had to come back out," said
Moore, who also had seven rebounds, "but the ball got stolen. If I had
it to do over again, I'd go to the basket nine out of 10 times."
In a game that was filled with clutch plays on
both the offensive and defensive ends, Wright's steal was decidedly
the biggest of the game.
Forward Shalicia Hurns said Wisconsin's attempt
to take the lead on the backdoor screen happened so quickly that most
of the Boilers didn't have time to react.
"I think we were all like 'whoaaa' — like
no one saw it coming," said Hurns, who had 12 points and eight rebounds
in the win. "And we were just relieved that the ball came to (Wright)."
Besides making the steal of the game, Wright contributed
in other ways. Along with six rebounds, she had 14 points on 3-of-8
shooting. She also made 8 of 9 from the free throw line, including two
with 1.6 seconds left in the game that secured the victory.
"I am so pleased with my free throw shooting,"
said Wright, who came into Sunday's game shooting 61.3 percent from
the line. "I think I've got the knack of it. I'm taking my time and
relaxing."
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